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THE 
CAVELL NURSE 



BOULOGNE — THE SOMME 
1916-1917 




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EDITH CAVELL 

Shot by the Germans, October 12, 1915. 



THE 

EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

FROM 

MASSACHUSETTS 



A RECORD 
OF ONE YEAR'S PERSONAL SERVICE 

WITH THE 

BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE 
BOULOGNE — THE SOMME 

1916-1917 



># 



WITH AN ACCOUNT 

OF THE IMPRISONMENT, TRIAL, AND DEATH 

OF EDITH CAVELL 



W. A. BUTTERFIELD 

59 BROMFIELD ST. 
BOSTON 






Copyright 

w. a. buttebfibld 

April 12, 1917 



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^,60 



m > 2 1917 

©CI,A460760 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

FROM 

MASSACHUSETTS 



EDITH CAVELL'S stoiy is of a sin- 
gular beauty. With solicitude for 
her enemy's women, the German 
pupil-nurses in her training school at Brus- 
sels, she protected them from possible un- 
kindness at the hands of the outraged 
Belgians, by herself taking them, at the 
beginning of the war, to the borders of 
their own land. And back at Brussels 
she nursed her enemy's wounded. 

'^At her trial, she made no specious 
defence. With unclouded soul, she con- 
sented to her own death by giving the 
court the truth — that she had indeed 
helped her countrymen and the men of 
Belgium, her adopted home. For these 
friends she laid down her life. Is there 
greater love than this ? 

[iii] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

"After three weeks .of solitary confine- 
ment, she said that she had found in prison 
kindness and peace of soul. For the enemy 
who first attempted to deceive our Ameri- 
can representative, and then set aside his 
touching prayer, and that of the Spanish 
ambassador, for even a brief delay — for 
this enemy she had no condemnation. 
^We must have,' she said, ^no hatred or 
bitterness.' 

"As far as may be in her spirit, and be- 
lieving that her execution struck at the 
heart of Christianity and of chivalry — we, 
American citizens, have asked the English 
director of military surgeiy to accept, for 
the rest of the war, the services of the Edith 
Cavell Memorial Nurse from Massachu- 
setts. The offer, though unconditional, is 
made in the hope that it may be this nurse's 
high fortune to serve not only the Allies' 
heroic wounded but their prisoners." 

The foregoing statement, published one 
year ago, had its origin in a memorial ser- 
vice, in honor of Edith Cavell, held in 
Steinert Hall, Boston, December 11, 1915. 

[iv] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Professor George Herbert Palmer presided, 
and Mrs. Jessie D. Hodder, Fred B. Lund, 
M.D., and the Rev. Samuel McChord 
Crothers spoke. It was then decided that 
an ^' Edith Cavell Nurse from Massachu- 
setts'' should be offered to the English 
Government to serve, with the British 
Expeditionary force in France, for the 
duration of the war. 

The raising of the necessary funds and the 
far more difficult task of choosing a nurse 
whose spirit and capacity would fit her for 
her task, was entrusted to this committee. 
Money sufficient for salary and expenses 
for one year was promptly subscribed, 
and a nurse of exceptional attainments 
and personal distinction was discovered. 
Miss Alice L. F. Fitzgerald, the nurse 
in question, is fortunate in her previous 
experience. After graduating from the 

[v] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Johns Hopkins School, she superintended 
two training schools for nurses, became 
head of the operating room at the Bellevtie 
Hospital, New York, and later worked 
with the Italian Red Cross for the Messina 
earthquake sufferers. For her devotion 
in that service she was decorated by the 
Italian Government. 

Miss Fitzgerald^s services in memory 
of Edith Cavell were accepted by the 
British Government. She has just com- 
pleted her first year of work for the 
wounded, British, Colonial, and German, 
on the English front in France. 

William Roscoe Thayer 

Philip Cabot 

Rosalind Huidekoper Greene 

Henry Copley Greene 
William Ernest Hocking 

Edith Cavell Committee 



[vi] 



THE TREASURER'S REPORT 
Edith Cavell Fund 



Janttaby 17, 1916, to Mabch 1, 1917 


Dr. 


Cb. 


19161 


Amount of Contributions 




$2400 00 




Miss Alice L. F. Fitzgerald — 








Salary, 12 months 


$600.00 






Expenses: steamship fare. 








uniforms, kit, board and 








lodging for 12 months 


963.88 




Mays 


12 doz. Rubber Gloves $54.00 
12 doz. Thermometers 72.00 








Express Charges 10.65 


136.65 

53.48 




Oct. 25 


Gramophone and records 






Cash on hand March 1, 1917 


645.99 






$2400.00 


$2400.00 



The Committee wishes to express its appreciation 
of the interest shown by the Dana Hall School of 
Wellesley, which released Miss Fitzgerald from work 
in the school, and paid for her passage to Europe. 
The Committee wishes also to acknowledge the 
generosity of Mr. A. H. Atkins, the Boston sculptor, 
who contributed his skill and talent in modelling the 
Edith Cavell medal which Miss Fitzgerald wears; 
and the kindness of the Gorham Manufacturing Co., 
which executed this medal in silver, free of charge. 

Funds are needed to carry this work through its 
second year. When you have read the first year's 
record of work by the Edith Cavell Nurse from 
Massachusetts, we are confident that, if you are 
already a subscriber, you will renew your subscrip- 
tion, and that if not, you will wish to send in your 
first donation. All gifts, whether large or small, 
will be welcomed : they should be sent to 

Philip Cabot, Treasurer, 
111 Devonshire St., Boston, Mass. 
[viil 



PREFACE 

THE spirit in which Miss Fitzgerald 
is carrjring out her mission, •• and 
something of what that spirit means to 
her wounded in France, may be inferred 
from the following record. These brief ex- 
tracts, from her letters to members of the 
Committee and to other friends in America 
and in France, tell us little of what she 
feels. Their unconsciousness makes them 
the more telling. It 'gives them, as we 
believe the reader will inevitably feel, a 
place heroic as it is humble, among the 
first-hand documents of the war. 



[viii] 





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THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 
FEOM MASSACHUSETTS 



London, 
Feb. 29-March 8, 1916. 

I LANDED quite safely in Liverpool 
yesterday after a beautiful trip. I 
can hardly wait to get to work : the at- 
mosphere is so tense, and no one is idling. 

Yesterday I had a charming personal 
note from the Surgeon General, asking 
me to go and see him. Of course I went 
to the War Office at once. I had a de- 
lightful interview with Sir Alfred Keogh, 
who said he would send me to France 

in 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

as near the Front as a nurse can go ! I 
then saw Miss Beecher, the Matron in 
Chief of the Nursing Service, who en- 
rolled me with the rank of "Sister" and 
gave me directions for getting my equip- 
ment. I am now waiting for orders to 
leave, and hope to be off within a week. 
It seems too good to be true. Several 
people I have met, and Sir Alfred Keogh 
particularly, seemed to be very grateful 
to you all for sending over a nurse. 

I hope that the Censor passed my cable 
telling you of my good fortune at receiv- 
ing orders to leave for France at once. 
If my uniforms had been finished, I would 
have left to-day. One of the matrons 
on duty in France has been held back in 
order to escort me over, which is re- 
markably kind and thoughtful. My kit 

[21 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

is ready, standing in the corner of the 
room, all packed in one large canvas bag : 
it contains the bed and mattress, pillow, 
sleeping bag, wash-stand, bath, chair, 
table, lantern, and many other necessities. 
Packing it is an art, I assure you. I 
hope that I can take it all back to America 
after the war, as it will make quite an 
interesting exhibit for your committee 
and contributors. 

I shall not know where I am going un- 
til I reach France and find orders there. 



[31 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



II 

Boulogne, 
March 9-May 9, 1916. 

I MUST say again and again that I 
have found such endless kindness, con- 
sideration, and courtesy that it makes 
me feel very small and unworthy. 

I crossed over to France last week, and 
after one day's rest was attached to a large 
military hospital at the Boulogne base. 
I have been so dead tired that I could 
hardly crawl when night came, with the 
rush and strangeness of it all. I shall 
probably stay here until I am a little 
familiar with the very intricate military 
routine and discipline and the very com- 
plicated record-keeping, etc. The nurs- 
ing, with a few exceptions, is not so very 

[4] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

different. I feel that I shall soon be help- 
ful enough to do "my bit/' 

The English Tommies are the most 
wonderful men, — never a grumble, never 
a loud word, and they stand pain like 
super-human beings. It is best not to 
stop and think too much; one could 
never do the work. 

I have been asked so often if more 
Edith Cavell nurses were coming. I wish 
some other States could follow your lead 
and send nurses; perhaps some could go 
to France, others to the English Red 
Cross, and to St. John's Ambulance, and 
so distribute them around. 

I received yesterday, by registered pack- 
age, the medal. I cannot tell you, how 
proud I am to have it, nor how beauti- 
ful I think it is. Can you tell Mr. Atkins 

161 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

for me that it has been so much admired 
by many whose opinion is worth while? 
As a design of a nurse it is by far the most 
beautiful I have seen. 

We are busy: convoys nearly every 
night. Acting as an assistant to the head 
of a ward, I have an opportunity to see 
the administration side and to help with 
the actual work. 

Please tell Francesca that I have de- 
cided to spend her 60 cents in buying'a plant 
for the ward, as the poor fellows love the 
green, and the plant will last a long time. 

It is still bitterly cold, and it was snowing 
two days ago. I am rather glad that I am 
now quartered in a comfortable hotel in- 
stead of a tent ! 

I wish I could convey to you the ap- 
preciation of those in authority for the 
[61 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

gift of a nurse which you have made to 
them. Only yesterday Sir Arthur Slog- 
gett, the Director General of all the 
British hospitals in France, called on me 
and told me how welcome I was and how 
glad they are to have me. They gave me 
two stripes, the highest any reserve Sister 
ever gets, and a ward of 22 beds within 
the first few weeks. I feel they have 
been very kind and confident ! 

The weather is getting warm at last 
and it is very nice to see the sun shine 
again. We are being visited by an en- 
emy aeroplane every now and then. Of 
course we do exactly what we should 
not do ; we rush out and watch the anti 
air-craft guns shelling it, and so run the 
double risk of being hit by a bomb or by 
the returning shells. It is too tempting, 

[71 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

and so exciting, to see the shells get so 
near it, and yet miss it. 

One thing has struck me forcibly lately, 
— the one thing our country has over- 
looked in its many helpful activities, — 
and that is recreation for the wounded. 
You should see the pleasure that an 
occasional band concert or a theatrical 
performance gives to these poor fellows. 
While listening to one of the crack Eng- 
lish bands the other day, which goes from 
hospital base to hospital base, I was 
thinking how fine it would be if Sousa or 
someone equally good could be induced 
to come over and help to give the poor 
fellows a treat. We nurse them, and feed 
them ; and it would be nice to give them 
a little pleasure besides. I am sure that 
you will see how much a little recreation 
means to a man straight from the trenches. 

[8] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Miss Lena Ashwell, the English actress, 
sends out members of her company and 
other artists once each month; they go 
from hospital to hospital, and give the 
very best of programs. 

What a surprise to all when the Rus- 
sians landed in Marseilles ! 



[9] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



III 

Somewhere in France, 
May 9-Sept. 15, 1916. 

I HAD my orders on Monday; and 
on Tuesday came to "Somewhere in 
France/' only a few kilometres from the 
firing line, and in the midst of intense 
activity. Such endless processions of 
transports, men, supplies, ammunition, 
despatch bearers. . . . The noise of 
shelling is quite plain ; and sometimes the 
bursting shells can be seen at night. The 
papers say that the Germans are going 
to make their next effort against our lines 
up here ; but we are ready for them. 

On my arrival, at about 8 p.m., I was 
shown to my tent, and I had my first 

[10] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

chance to unpack and use my precious 
kit bag. I was surprised at the ease with 
which I put up a bed, a wash-stand, a table, 
and chair in a short time. These pieces 
are so wonderfully well made, and the 
parts fit in so beautifully, that any one 
can put them up. Wonderful how com- 
fortable it all was ! 

Now I am in a hut, but still use all my 
own kit things. I am in a new hospital 
which only opened ten days ago, and we 
expect to be very busy some day. Aero- 
planes, captive balloons, despatch bearers, 
motor transports, etc. are continually 
reminding us that blood is being shed 
not so very far away. 

There are many Australian nurses with 

us here, but the Canadian nurses are 

mostly kept with their own units. I saw 

the Harvard unit hospital one day. They 

[111 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

are very highly thought of, and are do- 
ing good work. I am certainly putting 
"Massachusetts on the map/' for so many 
people want to know where I come from 
and why I am here. 

My patients have been enjoying a 
gramophone sent by the Red Cross for 
the use of the wards; they are like chil- 
dren over it! You can imagine these 
poor men, fresh from trench life and the 
sight of all horrors, but now lying in nice 
white beds and listening to familiar tunes. 
Giving them such pleasures is part of 
the game, and not the least by any means, 
I assure you. 

The Colonials, Australians, New Zea- 
landers, Canadians, Indians, are splendid 
men, and eager for a hot fight. They 
will get their wish I fancy. I am writing 

[12] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

this in the ward facing a row of fine, 
brave fellows who have been fighting for 
their country and the just cause. They 
lie here without a grumble or complaint, 
just waiting to be sent back to it if they 
are well enough to go; and "going back" 
is much harder in my opinion than going 
for the first time. 

The gloves and thermometers will come 
in most usefully, also the cases which 
have been sent to me from the Peter 
Bent Brigham Committee. 

Yes indeed, I can use writing paper, 
plain chocolate, and any games. I believe 
that I should have greatly increased in 
value, had I been given a gramophone to 
bring with me. One Sister has such a 
nice one, fitting into a travelling case. If 
you know any one keen to give one away, 

[13] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

do think of me. It does one's heart good 
to see the poor fellows cheer up over a good 
record. One of their favorites is "Take 
me back to U. S. A." Very catchy, and 
I like it too ! 

We have two German prisoners wounded, 
but not in my ward. 

You will be interested to know that I 
was the only person in the hospital who 
could talk to our wounded prisoners. They 
were here for two days ; I felt very deeply 
the strength of my mission, when I was 
working and interpreting for them. 

Yesterday we had some distinguished 
visitors, among them Dr. A. Carrel of the 
Rockefeller in New York. He has worked 
with so many Hopkins people that we 
had much to chatter about. Sir Arthur 
Sloggett, the Director General of the 

[141 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Medical Service in France, or D. G. for 
short, I have met twice. He is very 
charming. In fact the "Edith Cavell 
Nurse from Massachusetts'' has many 
distinguished and interested visitors ; and 
many nice things are said about Massa- 
chusetts. 

We have very busy days followed by 
very quiet ones waiting for the next convoy 
after a night of fighting. We are really 
a clearing house to relieve congestion 
nearer the front, and do not keep the 
patients very long. Apart from the 
hospital work, life is very interesting. 
You walk down to the village, and meet 
column after colunm of large motor lorries 
carrying ammunition or supplies, large 
cannon being pulled by the most powerful 
motor engines, detachments of cavalry, 
bicycle corps. . . . War is such a busi- 

[151 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

ness now! So much system, so much 
planning ! 

We have spread out into a large number 
of tents, ready to cover 1000 wounded. 
The enemy has been flying over us very 
frequently with more or less success. But 
we are very carefully guarded by aero- 
planes scouting whenever weather permits. 

A most beautiful air fight took place 
over us this a.m. : eleven machines all 
manoeuvring and shooting. Ours routed 
the enemy before he had done anything, 
to us at least. One stood there watching, 
quite forgetful that something might fall 
on one at any time, even if only an empty 
shell ! 

I have a gas mask at hand for emergency 
use and wear my identification disk around 
my neck, so am taking all precautions. 

[16] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Ten boxes have come from Boston and 
are most welcome, sent by the Peter 
Bent Brigham Committee. I shall be 
more than delighted to get the gramo- 
phone/ chocolates, etc. I know they will 
give much pleasure to these brave fellows. 

I believe that we are starting at last, 
and that "something will be doing'' from 
now on. The air is filled with tenseness and 
expectation, and incidentally with aero- 
plane scouts. We were bombed the other 
day: that is, the village a few hundred 
yards away. Many casualties and deaths. 
It may be our turn next. The Taubes 
came back the next day, but our scouts 
were after them. 

It seems such a long time ago that I 
lived in a peaceful, noiseless atmosphere, 

1 Sent by the Edith Cavell Committee. 
[171 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

that I wonder if such a thing still exists. 
As I write, the shelling along the front 
is something fearful in its angry, deter- 
mined sounds! The sky is alive with 
aeroplanes of all kinds, the scouts, the 
battle planes. . . . Some fly so low that 
they almost touch the poles of our tents. 

My cousin in Baltimore sent some cig- 
arettes and some chocolate for the soldiers, 
which came through without trouble or 
delay, and were so much enjoyed. If you 
hear of any one wanting to do likewise, 
please encourage them. The fact that 
these things had come from so far seemed 
to add to their value. They were sent c/o 
the War Office, London. 

I have a very tender spot in my heart 
for the "Colonials," Australians, Cana- 
dians, New Zealanders, etc. I know them 

[18] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

the moment they open their mouths; 
and they know I am a sort of ^'Colonial" 
myself, the moment I speak ; and we soon 
understand each other beautifully. Their 
views are very different from the views of 
the pure Englishman. It is interesting to 
study the changes. They are so abso- 
lutely reckless and frank ! There is rarely 
a "hot place'' on the front where they 
will not be found. This very moment 
some of them are doing a big piece of work. 

The thermometer and gloves arrived 
quite safely and in good condition, two 
days ago.^ I wish that I might thank 
those who made it possible to send me 
these things. Rubber gloves are so neces- 
sary; for the wounds are all so badly 
infected that one's hands become a source 

1 Sent by the Edith Cavell Committee. 
[19] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

of danger to others as well as to one's self. 
Within a few days, and in spite of all 
precautions, two of our surgeons have 
become infected from the wounds. One 
has been invalided home after facing the 
possible loss of his arm; the other is 
recovering here. You see practically 
every bullet or piece of shrapnel or other 
foreign body carries in pieces of dirty cloth- 
ing, earth, etc. ; and conditions are terrible. 

We are not as busy at present as we 
were a few days ago, but these days of 
rest make it possible for us to keep up 
with the days of rush. 

You would be surprised to see how very 
useful my languages are. Every German 
wounded prisoner we get, I have to inter- 
view and obtain particulars, besides cen- 
soring all their correspondence. It is 
the same with the French. As very few 

[201 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

of the English Sisters have taken advan- 
tage of their stay in France to study the 
language, I am called upon to interpret 
upon all occasions. 

Do you realize that I am on my sixth 
month? It does not seem possible that 
I left the U. S. A. so long ago. 

I received yesterday a nice box contain- 
ing two fine sets of checkers and boards, 
chocolates, much letter paper with en- 
velopes and pencils, and playing cards. 
For all of these very many thanks to you 
and others responsible for the gifts. 

Very busy at present with shifting forces. 
Our army corps is not actually the active 
one ; but we await our turn patiently. 

. Dear Francesca: Your mother wrote 
and told me that you had saved $1 for me 

[21] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

to spend on something for our wounded, 
and to-day I had the opportunity to do so. 
I have an old man in my ward who is 53, 
but in order to get into the army he "Hed '' 
and said he was 38 ! Do you think that 
was very wicked, or very brave? Well, 
he broke his pipe and lost his eyeglass- 
case in the trenches. So I bought him a 
pipe and a case for his eyeglasses. He was 
so pleased to know that it came from a 
little girl in America that he wrote the 
enclosed letter and asked me to send it to 
you. He is such a fine old man ! 

"To THE Little Girl who Sent the 
Present — 

" Dear little girl, it is more than kind of 
you so far away to think of the British 
soldiers in France. I am more than 
thankful to receive such a gift from you. 

[22] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

I am an old man, and have had Httle 
girls of my own, but they are all married. 
I have got two boys left, one 16 years 
and one 11 years of age. I have been out 
here as a volunteer for 6 months and I 
have been in the front lines; but I am 
sorry to say I am sent down as unj&t. 
I may tell you, all the regiments that I 
have seen, the officers and men are all 
cheerful. I have been very well dealt 
with in this Hospital. The Sisters are 
very kind, especially Sister Fitzgerald. 
So, my little heroine, once more receive 
my very grateful thanks from 

'' Your old soldier, 

" Pte James Wilson." 

I have quite made up my mind that 
certainly there will be one more winter 
campaign at least, if not more! I have 

[23J 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

sent my passport to the Embassy in Paris 
for renewal. Weather dehghtful, cool 
and sunny, just right for fighting. 

Will you tell Faith that I have been 
buying pipes and giving them in her name, 
as so many of the Tommies needed them ? 
The nice old man who got Francesca's 
pipe reached home safely, and wrote me 
such a grateful little note ! 

We had a visit from the King and the 
Prince of Wales and suite lately, which 
pleased the patients immensely. The 
King looks well, but aged. I have come 
to the conclusion that even in the very 
small part that I play, each day makes me 
a week older. I cannot quite explain it. 
It is not only the hard work, but the whole 
situation and atmosphere in which we 
live. At night the firing line is all lighted 

[24] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

up by the star shells sent up to help locate 
positions. On a clear day, we can see 
much of the activities on the firing line : 
observation balloons, aeroplanes, shells 
bursting. ... It makes it all very vividly 
real that men are killing each other not so 
far away. 

Most of the women around here are ref- 
ugees from the invaded area, poor things. 
They live anywhere, anyhow, and just 
subsist on as little as possible. Their 
husbands, fathers, brothers are either 
fighting or dead. What have they to look 
forward to, with everything lost and their 
villages probably destroyed ? 



[t^ 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



IV 

At a Casualty Clearing Station, 
Sept. 16-Dec. 31. 

I AM on my way to 2/2 London Cas- 
ualty Clearing Station, which will be 
my address for the present. I am very 
glad to be going where I am going ; I 
fancy it will be hard work ahead. 

I am in the thick of it, as this is the 
nearest Clearing Station to the Front. 
I assure you I am all but in the trenches ! 
We are situated in a horse-shoe, with the 
firing line on three sides. We can only 
walk a short distance in all directions 
for fear of getting shelled. Our quarters 
(nursesO are in small Bell Tents. I have 
a nice little one all to myself. Two days 

126J 



FROM MASSACPTUSETTS 

of pouring rain have made everything 
disappear under inches of dirty clay 
mud. 

My costume these days consists of 
rubber, knee-deep boots, rubber coat, 
a souVester. Going in and out of tents, 
and even in the tents, which leak, nothing 
else is possible. 

The shelling is continuous, air fights 
going on. We are advancing splendidly. 
German prisoners tell me they are very 
tired of the war, and have had so little to 
eat ! I think the end is in sight. 

We are on ground formerly occupied 
by Germans, and see the trenches, the 
empty shell cases, of the old scene of ; 

fighting. When I first came, there were 
no floors to the tents, only the bare 
ground. It rained for three days ; and I | 

[27] I 

1 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

got out of bed into a puddle every morn- 
ing. The mud was something awful. 

The work is of course of a most active 
sort. We get the patients by ambu- 
lances from the field hospitals, and we 
sort them. The operative cases are 
operated upon; those too ill to travel 
are settled comfortably; and others are 
dressed, fed, and sent on by train to the 
base. They pass through our hands by 
the hundreds. I could not imagine that 
men could live with such awful wounds ; 
in civil life they would die of fright 
alone. 

I am right in the thick of it now ; and 
the shells whiz by our ears in great 
style. It is queer that, where there is 
such real danger, one does not think of it. 

I have charge of two tents which hold 
from 60 to 70 wounded each, and they 

[281 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

have been so covered with stretchers 
that I had to crawl in and out to get 
through. It is awfully hard work nurs- 
ing a patient on a stretcher which only 
stands about 6" from the ground; and 
I sometimes wish I were not so tall! 

We are in the wilderness; even news- 
papers do not come regularly ; and as for 
mail, I have not seen any since I came. 
I was able to get money on my letter of 
credit at Abbeville where I stopped over, 
so I am settled for three or four months. 
Dr. Lord's little daughter sent me a 
second bundle of knitted wash rags, 
which were most welcome. 

I am just as happy as the day is long, 
working in my little tent-ward, and try- 
ing to help the poor fellows. Soldiers 
are really wonderful. They go to fight 
with a smile; they come back half dead 

[29] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

with a smile. The least we can do is to 
make them as happy and comfortable 
as we can. Nothing is too good for 
them. 

I went through the wonderfully inter- 
esting spot quite lately, German dugouts, 
shell holes, craters, etc., etc. As far as 
noises are concerned, I do not believe 
there are any which I have not heard. If 
noises could kill, we should all be corpses. 
It is roar, roar, roar, day and night, — 
guns nearer by with their louder reports, 
air craft fights, anti-air-craft guns, bombs 
exploding, German shells whizzing over 
our camp. And with it all, it is a blessing 
to be busy. 

As to the question of "leave,'' my getting 
away just now is absolutely impossible, 
unless I am taken in a "box" — which is 

[30] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

perfectly possible. We are in constant 
danger from enemy shells ; and the Taubes 
have dropped bombs only a few yards 
away from us. 

About a week ago, in the middle of the 
night, I woke up at the sound of the drop- 
ping of bombs nearer and nearer, until one 
came down so near that the vibration 
simply knocked me out of bed. Such a 
noise ! The shrapnel from it went through 
the roof of our two wards which were 
empty just then. If you go out walk- 
ing, you are suddenly startled by the 
whizzing of a shell until you get quite 
jerky ! I do not mind it a bit, however, 
and feel that there is great need of nurses 
Vay up front like this. 

I suppose you have read about the 
" Tanks " ? I went into one the other day, 
— pure cheek! Every one laughs, and 

[311 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

says, "Trust U. S. A. to get there!" 
The officer in charge looked so surprised 
to see me, and said, "Where on earth 
did you drop from?" 

Could I trouble you to have one thing 
sent out to me of which I am in urgent 
need? Refills for my flash-lamp, as we 
cannot get candles for love or money, 
and I must have some lighting. 

The winter is with us. I am glad to say 
that huts have been put up for us. We 
left our tents ten days ago. The huts 
have roofs and sides of corrugated iron 
which will prevent shrapnel and small 
pieces of shell from reaching us. The 
tents were anything but safe. 

I am crippled with chilblains on my 
feet and hands. Those on my feet are 
made worse by having to wear high rubber 

[32] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

boots in this perpetual rain and mud. 
Never knew I had feet before. 

Have I ever told you that my messing 
expenses here are just as they were before, 
that is, 4 francs daily? This month 
there will be some winter equipment, 
including a pair of rubber boots. Would 
you believe it possible that I have worn 
one pair down, in these few weeks, on 
account of the awful mud which they 
have sprinkled with the sharpest stones 
you ever saw, to prevent our sinking right 
in ? Wandering around after dark, even 
with a hurricane lamp, is a dangerous per- 
formance. 

I do hope that U. S. A. are going to 
take a stand about the submarines. 

It is quite wonderful how these huts 

[S3] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

deaden the ceaseless noise of the shelling. 
At times I almost forget where I am, 
until "Big Liz" or some one else peals 
forth an extra loud salute. That " shakes " 
me back to the reality of the situation. 
I know you will all have a happy Xmas. 
I hear rumors of a turkey and plum pud- 
ding for our mess. It will taste very good 
after months of "bully beef" and tinned 
things. However, in spite of food and 
other things which are not quite perfect, 
I am feeling splendidly and not planning 
as yet on leave. I think I shall ask for it, 
however, before my 12 months are up, or 
I shall lose it altogether for this year. 



[34] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



London and Boulogne, 
Jan.-Feb., 1917. 

I HAVE been granted 3 weeks' leave 
and shall report back for duty 
January the 22nd. I have no idea where 
I shall be sent on my return to France. 
I shall find my orders on landing. 

The crossing is made quite horribly 
uncomfortable by having to wear a life 
belt. I can recommend it as an instru- 
ment of torture when you would like to 
lie back comfortably in a steamer chair ! 

After three weeks in London I came over 
on the 24th, and was delighted to find that 
my orders were to report at 13 General 
Hospital, where I started last March 

[35] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

and where I was keenly anxious to 
return. 

We live in billets here in a hotel, and the 
expenses will be higher than when we mess 
in camp. 

It is awfully cold, in fact the coldest 
weather which has been known in years. 
As there is no heat in the building, I am 
still hugging my little oil lamp. But it is 
far more comfortable than a hut anyway ! 

What an excitement over U. S. A. 
affairs! I am being greeted as a "half 
ally'' now, waiting for the declaration 
of war to become a "full one." Things 
are getting very tense. The air is full of 
electricity or rather of activity: what? 
when? where? 

Who knows? 



[361 



EDITH CAVELL 
Hee Imprisonment, Trial, and Death 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



The Message of Edith Cavell 

A MEETING in honor of Edith Cavell 
was held at Steinert Hall on Decem- 
ber 11. "In honor?" questioned Profes- 
sor George H. Palmer, who presided. "It 
is difficult to find a suitable word to express 
our feeling. We cannot honor her. She 
gives us honor. But in this meeting to- 
night, held simultaneously with one in 
Canada, there is thanksgiving for her go- 
ing up from two great countries at once." 
In the courageous, self-forgetful, truth- 
loving life of Edith Cavell we meet, with 
an extraordinary sense of intimacy, a 
woman so beautiful of soul that I want 
every teacher in the land and every child 
in school to hear the story of her sacrifice. 

[39] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Nine years ago she went to Brussels, and 
established a training school. Up to the 
time the war broke out hundreds of Belgian 
and German nurses had come to it. It was 
characteristic of Miss Cavell that fearing 
the indignation of the Belgians might make 
it difficult for the German nurses to get 
home, she herself escorted them safely 
across the frontier. 

Then came the care of the wounded. 
She nursed Germans and Belgians alike 
during the long breathless year from 
August, 1914, to August, 1915. Sud- 
denly she was arrested; held for ten 
weeks in prison; then summarily shot. 

And why did Miss Cavell receive a 
sentence of death after a trial of two days ? 
She had harbored and helped across the 
frontier some English and French soldiers 
and some young Belgians. When asked 

[401 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

why she did this, she said that she thought 
that had she not done so they would have 
been shot by the Germans, and that she 
only did her duty to her country in saving 
their lives. "Treason/Hhe German mili- 
tary penal code called this act. Long 
ago in New England, Ralph Waldo Emer- 
son wrote that no house was complete 
that did not have a room in which to hide 
a fugitive slave. Treason, did we call it ? 
At five in the afternoon of October 12 
Edith Cavell was condemned to death. 
Next morning at 2 o'clock, the darkest 
hour of night, with no dawn lighting the 
sky, she was shot. Late the evening 
before an English chaplain, Mr. Gahan, 
was admitted to her cell to give her the 
Holy Communion. The words of that in- 
terview are precious, shining, miraculous. 
She said, smiling: "I am not afraid to 

[41] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

die, I have seen death so often that it is 
not terrible to me/' Then of her impris- 
onment, "I am so thankful for these ten 
weeks of quiet. Life has always been so 
hurried. They have been very good to 
me." And finally, "But I realize that 
patriotism is not enough ; one must have 
no hatred, no bitterness. ' ' With her friend 
she recited the words of "Abide with 
Me," and when he said a last farewell, 
answered clear-eyed: "We shall meet 
again." 

Gathered together at the memorial 
service for Miss Cavell we found, I think, 
pearls of great price. The qualities of 
courage and of truth have often been 
thought of as belonging to men rather 
than to women. Miss Cavell had courage 
to face both life and death. In loyalty to 
truth she calmly gave evidence that made 

[42] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

her condemnation certain. That death 
she met for her country and even more for 
God. Her last words fall like words 
from the Gospel: "One must have no 
hatred or bitterness." Neutrality is a 
colorless and often a craven attitude; 
forgiveness of enemies is the dawn of a 
renewed Christianity. "If thine enemy 
hunger, feed him." She had fed the 
wounded German soldiers. "Bless them 
that curse you." "They have been very- 
good to me," she said. "I am thankful 
for the peace of these ten weeks." Surely 
to find peace through days when one's life 
is at stake passeth understanding, and 
brings the spirit, of heaven upon, earth. 

At the memorial meeting of which I 
spoke, it was voted that a fund be raised in 
honor of Miss Cavell to offer the British 
War Office a nurse who should serve at 

[43] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

the front, nursing both the English and 
their wounded prisoners. This use of her 
fund would, I think, satisfy Miss Cavell. 
"Her execution," said Samuel M. Crothers, 
"is a deed that strikes at the heart of 
Christianity and of chivalry/' True, and 
for that reason, only the spirit of Christian- 
ity itself and of womanhood, such as that 
of Edith Cavell, are strong enough to rise 
unharmed from the agony of this war, 
irresistible, forever returning blessings for 
curses. 

Ella Lyman Cabot. 



[441 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



EDITH CAVELLi 

I 

EDITH CAVELL was born in 1872 
at the village of Swardeston, Norfolk, 
of which her father was rector. During 
her childhood, Florence Nightingale's life- 
work was beginning to bear fruit in a great 
development of trained nursing in Eng- 
land. The girls of Edith Cavell's genera- 
tion found a wonderful field of service 
opening before them. Edith Cavell her- 
self was one of those that entered it. 
Miss Cavell began her training at the 

1 Reprinted, in abridged form, from "The Death 
of Edith Cavell," a pamphlet pubUshed by the Daily 
News and Ledger, London and Manchester. 
[45] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

London Hospital when she was twenty- 
one. She qualified in 1896, and distin- 
guished herself by ten years of responsible 
work in England. In 1906 Miss Cavell 
was asked to be the first directress of a 
"Belgian School of Certified Nurses" in 
process of foundation at Brussels. In 
addition to her professional experience and 
enthusiasm, she was especially qualified 
for the task by the fact that she had 
spent several years of her girlhood in 
Brussels at school, and so was already 
familiar with Belgian life. The patrons 
of the new Nursing Institute looked 
forward to the great development of the 
nursing profession in Belgium under Miss 
Cavell. But in the eighth year of her 
pioneer-work came the war. 



[46] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



II 

The Arrest 

SHE was spending a holiday with her 
mother in England at the moment 
war broke out. There would be work 
in Brussels for her to do, and she returned 
immediately to do it. 

She arrived in time to share the terrible 
experience of the German entry into the 
Belgian capital. The Training Institute 
transformed itself under Miss CavelFs di- 
rection into a hospital for sick and wounded 
soldiers. Belgians, Frenchmen, and Eng- 
lishmen, as well as the German invaders, 
all came under her impartial care. She 
nursed friend and foe with single-minded 

[47] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

devotion. But she did not limit her 
services to this. She took counsel with 
her Belgian friends, and succeeded, with 
their assistance, in conveying many of 
her French, British, and Belgian patients, 
as they recovered, to the farther side of 
the Dutch Frontier, that they might fight 
again for the common cause instead of 
undergoing whatever fate the German 
authorities allotted to convalescent pris- 
oners-of-war. She also helped in the 
escape of Belgian civilians of military 
age, who had been overtaken, before they 
could join the colors, by the rapidity of 
the German advance, and were being 
held at home in virtual captivity. 

So she worked for a year — a year of 
military nursing, and nine months of 
friendship in need to her friends and 
fellow-countrymen — until the German 

[48] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

Administration in Belgium discovered her 
share in the escapes. 

On August 5th, 1915, Edith Cavell 
was arrested at her hospital by soldiers, 
and carried away to the military prison of 
St.-GiUes. 



491 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



III 

The American Legation Intervenes 

EDITH CAVELL had been three weeks 
in prison before her family in England 
heard of her arrest, and then they only 
heard of it privately from a traveller who 
happened to have come from Belgium 
since the event. They communicated the 
news to the Foreign Office, and action was 
immediately taken by Sir Edward Grey. 
Sir Edward sent a note on August 26th to 
Mr. Page, the United States Ambassador 
in London, requesting him to inquire of 
the United States Minister at Brussels 
by telegraph, whether the report of Miss 
CavelFs arrest were correct, and, if it 

[50] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

were, what reason had been alleged in 
explanation. 

Mr. Page telegraphed to his colleague 
at Brussels, Mr. Whitlock, next morn- 
ing; and four days later, on August 
31st, Mr. Whitlock addressed an inquiry 
on the subject to Baron von der Lancken, 
the chief of the "Political Department'' 
(Politische Abteilung) of the German 
Military Government in the conquered 
territory. After waiting ten days without 
being vouchsafed an answer, Mr. Whitlock 
followed it up in another note on Septem- 
ber 10th : 

"The United States Minister presents 
his compliments to Baron von der Lancken 
and has the honour to draw his Excel- 
lency's attention to his letter of the 31st 
August, respecting the arrest of Miss Cavell, 
to which no reply has yet been received. 

[51] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

"As the Minister has been requested by 
telegraph to take charge of Miss CavelFs 
defence without delay, he would be greatly 
obliged if Baron von der Lancken would 
enable him to take forthwith such steps 
as may be necessary for this defence, and 
to answer by telegraph to the despatch 
which he has received." 

The Chief of the German "Political 
Department" could not ignore the Ameri- 
can Minister at Brussels a second time. 
Baron von der Lancken wrote in reply : 

"Political Department 

OF THE 

Governor-General in Belgium. 

I. 6940. 

" Brussels, 

" September 12, 1915. 

"In reply to your Excellency's note of 
the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to 
inform you that Miss Edith Cavell was 

[52] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

arrested on the 5th August, and that she 
is at present in the Military prison of 
St.-Gilles. 

"She has herself admitted that she con- 
cealed in her house French and English 
soldiers, as well as Belgians of military 
age, all desirous of proceeding to the front. 
She has also admitted having furnished 
these soldiers with the money necessary 
for their journey to France, and having 
facilitated their departure from Belgium 
by providing them with guides, who 
enabled them to cross the Dutch Frontier 
secretly. 

"Miss Caveirs defence is in the hands 
of the advocate Braun, who, I may add, 
is already in touch with the competent 
German authorities. 

"In view of the fact that the Depart- 
ment of the Governor-General as a matter 

[53] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

of principle does not allow accused persons 

to have any interviews whatever, I much 

regret my inability to procure for M. de 

Leval permission to visit Miss Cavell as 

long as she is in solitary confinement. 

I avail, etc., 

Lancken." 



[54] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

IV 

M, de Leval Takes Steps 

MDE LEVAL; whose name is referred 
• to in Baron von der Lancken's final 
reply, is a Belgian advocate retained as 
Legal Counsellor by the United States 
Legation in the Belgian capital. In a re- 
port which he drew up for Mr. Whitlock 
after the tragedy was over, he very clearly 
describes the successive steps he took in 
the case. 

As he might not see Miss Cavell, M. de 
Leval got into touch with her advocate, 
M. Braun. At his request M. Braun came 
to call on him at the Legation a few days 
later. It appeared that he was a member 
of the Brussels Bar, and that he had been 

[55] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

asked by personal friends of Miss Cavell 
to defend her before the German Court; 
"but owing (he said) to some unforeseen 
circumstances he was prevented from 
pleading before that Court.'^ This, then, 
was the outcome of his dealings with 
"the competent German authorities." M. 
Braun added that "he had asked M. Kir- 
schen, a member (likewise) of the Brussels 
Bar, and his friend, to take up the case 
and plead for Miss Cavell, and that 
M. Kirschen had agreed to do so." 



(56] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



V 

The Advocate Kirschen 

MDE LEVAL took the only possible 
• course. He put himself in touch 
with M. Kirschen, who, after a slight 
further delay, accorded him the interview 
for which he asked. Inlthe course of this 
interview M. Kirschen 

(i) Informed him that the lawyers de- 
fending prisoners before the German Mili- 
tary Court were not allowed to see their clients 
before the trial, and were not shown any 
document of the prosecution. This, he 
added, was in accordance with the German 
military rules. 

(ii) He declared that the hearing of 

[57] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

the trial of such cases was carried out 
very carefully, and that, in his opinion, 
although it was not possible to see the 
client before the trial, in fact the trial itself 
developed so carefully and so slowly j that 
it was generally possible to have a fair 
knowledge of all the facts and to present 
a good defence for the prisoner. This 
would specially be the case for Miss 
Cavell, because the trial would he rather 
long, as she was prosecuted with thirty- 
four other prisoners. 

(iii) On learning of M. de LevaPs 
intention to be present at the trial, so as 
to watch the case, M. Kirschen strongly 
dissuaded him from doing so. He thought 
that if the Germans would admit M. de 
LevaPs presence, which was very doubtful, 
it would in any case cause prejudice to 
Miss Cavell. 

[58] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

(iv) He promised that he would keep 
M. de Leval posted on all the developments 
which the case might take, and would report 
to him the exact charges that were brought 
against Miss Cavell, and the facts con- 
cerning her that would be disclosed at 
the trial, so as to allow him to judge 
for himself about the merits of the 
case. 

(v) He insisted that he would do all 
that was humanly possible to defend Miss 
Cavell to the best of his ability. 

With this, M. Kirschen took his depar- 
ture, leaving things very much where they 
were before. 

So darkness descended again on the case 
for another three weeks, until, on Monday, 
October 4th, M. Kirschen duly notified 
M. de Leval that the trial was to begin 
on the following Thursday, October 7th. 

[591 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Upon the receipt of this news, M. de Leval 
immediately wrote M. Kirschen a letter 
"confirming in writing in the name of the 
Legation the arrangement that. had been 
made between them at their previous 
interview." 

"Bbusbels, 

"Octobers, 1915. 

"Sir, 

"I thank you for the letter you were so 
good as to address to M. de Leval, in which 
you informed him that Miss CavelFs case 
would come before the court-martial at 
8 A.M. next Thursday. In pursuance of 
the arrangement already come to, I should 
be most grateful if you will be so good as 
to send me, after the hearing, a mem- 
orandum setting forth the acts for which 
Miss Cavell is being prosecuted, and stat- 
ing the charges which are brought against 

[60] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



her at the hearing, and also the sentence 



" I am, etc. 

" (For the Minister), 
" G. DE Leval, 

" Legal Adviser to the 
Legation.^' 

This letter was delivered to M. Kirschen 
by a messenger of the Legation, and 
M. de Leval waited anxiously for his next 
report. 



[61] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



VI 

The Trial 

ON Thursday, October 7th, the trial of 
Edith Cavell and her fellow-pris- 
oners began. It was nine weeks since her 
first arrest and imprisonment. That had 
been on August 5th, and all this time 
she had been retained (unconvicted though 
she was) in solitary confinement, cut off 
from communion with her friends and 
from all intercourse whatsoever with the 
outside world. 

M. de Leval has embodied in his report 
a very exact account of the proceedings, 
which he afterwards obtained from some 
one who had taken part in them. We may 

[62] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

say at once that this informant was not 
M. Kirschen. 

"Miss Cavell (says M. de LevaFs in- 
formant) was prosecuted for having helped 
EngHsh and French soldiers, as well as 
Belgian young men, to cross the frontier 
and to go over to England. She had 
admitted by signing a statement before 
the day of the trial, and by public acknowl- 
edgment in Court, in the presence of all 
the other prisoners, and the lawyers, that 
she was guilty of the charges brought 
against her." 

The German Military Code says : 

"Will be sentenced to death for treason 
any person who is guilty of . . . conduct- 
ing soldiers to the enemy . . . (viz. : 'dem 
Feinde Mannschaften zufiihrtO- 

"The penalties apply, in case of war, 
to foreigners as well as to Germans." 

[63] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Now Edith Cavell did not succor her 
friends and compatriots in distress because 
she thought she could do so with impunity. 
She succored them, in the first place, from 
pure humanity — a humanity which has 
been shown by women through all ages to 
fugitives wounded and in distress; and, 
in the second place, because she thought 
(as she declared in Court) that she was 
doing her unquestionable duty to her 
country. But she knew all the while that 
she was doing it at the risk of her life; 
and she willingly responded to her in- 
quisitors by an admission of all, and more 
than all, their charges. 

In defending their conduct, the Ger- 
mans lay great stress on the fact that their 
victim had done what she did with open 
eyes. Here, for instance, is a quotation 
from a statement to an American journalist 

[64] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

by Herr Zimmermann, the Imperial Ger- 
man Under-Secretary-of-State for Foreign 
Affairs : 

"In the Cavell case we are in presence of 
a well-thought-out, world-wide conspiracy 
which succeeded for nine months in render- 
ing the most valuable service to the enemy 
to the disadvantage of our Army. 

^'Countless British, Belgian, and French 
soldiers are now again fighting in the Allies' 
ranks who owe their escape from Belgium 
to the activity of the band now sentenced, 
at the head of which stood Miss Cavell. 

"With such a situation under the eyes 
of the authorities only the utmost severity 
can bring relief, and a Government violates 
the most elementary duty towards its 
army that does not adopt the strictest 
measures." 

Who were the Englishmen, Frenchmen, 

[65] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

and Belgians in this case ? They were not 
invaders, or raiders, or spies. They were 
men wounded or missing from armies 
fighting for the liberty of the country in 
which they found themselves, or they were 
citizens of that country seeking an oppor- 
tunity to give her their service. 

Most of them were natives and citizens 
of Belgium, while Edith Cavell — the 
"head of the conspiracy," as Herr Zim- 
mermann prefers to call her — had come 
to Belgium, on the invitation of the 
Belgians themselves, to carry out a work 
of public beneficence, on which she had 
already been engaged for more than eight 
years. And the acts for which they were 
now arraigned were likewise acts of mercy, 
which women, at any rate (and many of 
the "band'^ were women, besides their 
"head'O; have never refused to per- 

[661 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

form on behalf of fellow-creatures in 
distress. 

These were the people against whom the 
German administration was obliged to 
"adopt the strictest measures/' for fear 
of "violating the most elementaiy duty 
towards its army/' Herr Zimmermann's 
phrases are so complacent and so officially 
correct, that it needs an effort to remind 
ourselves what that army actually was. 
It was the German Army which had in- 
vaded without provocation a country 
whose inviolability the German Govern- 
ment had solemnly guaranteed. It was 
the army which had treated the helpless 
and innocent population among whom it 
came as no invaded people for centuries 
had been treated by European soldiers 
— the army that plundered and burnt and 
slaughtered and ravished. The German 

[67] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Army, it is to be supposed, had committed 
itself to its career of "f rightfulness" in 
Belgium in order not to fail in its duty 
towards the German Government; and 
now the Government was inflicting the 
same "f rightfulness" on Miss Cavell in 
order to carry out its duty to the Army. 

It is not an unimportant point that, 
even under the German Military Law by 
which she was tried, Edith Cavell was 
rendered amenable to the death-penalty 
only by evidence which she volunteered 
of her own accord, and which no one else 
could have obtained against her. M. de 
LevaFs informant told him that : 

"She had acknowledged not only that 
she had helped these soldiers to cross the 
frontier, but also that some of them had 
thanked her in writing when arriving in 
England. This last admission made her 

[68] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

case so much the more serious, because if 
it only had been proved against her that 
she had helped the soldiers to traverse the 
Dutch Frontier, and no proof was produced 
that these soldiers had reached a country 
at war with Germany, she could only have 
been sentenced for an attempt to commit 
the ' crime, ^ and not for the 'crime' being 
duly accomplished." 

That was one point in the case, but there 
is another which would have appealed still 
more directly to any judge. Edith Cavell 
was a nurse, constant to the ideals of her 
calling. If part of her efforts had been 
given, during those nine months, to assist- 
ing her convalescent patients to escape, 
her daily labors were spent, as they 
always had been, on the unconditional 
service of the sick. She had not only 
succored the English, French, and Bel- 

[69] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

gian wounded that came under her care; 
she had nursed Germans as well — nursed 
them back to hfe that they might fight 
again for their own country, with just the 
same devotion as she displayed to those 
others whom she was sending home to 
fight for a cause which was hers as well as 
theirs. 

That service to their wounded comrades 
should have made Edith CavelFs life 
sacred in the eyes of the German ofiicers 
who condemned her to death. It should 
have reprieved her even if she had been a 

spy. 

But the German authorities were not 
governed by such considerations. 

"Once for alP' (states Herr Zimmer- 
mann), "the activity of our enemies has 
been stopped, and the sentence has been 
carried out to frighten those who may 

[70] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



presume on their sex to take part in 
enterprises punishable with death/ ^ 

The narrative of the trial which M. de 
Leval had from his informant, and which 
he incorporated in his own Report, con- 
tinues thus: "In her oral statement 
before the Court, Miss Cavell disclosed 
almost all the facts of the whole prosecu- 
tion. She was questioned in German, an 
interpreter translating all the questions 
in French, with which language Miss 
Cavell was well acquainted. She spoke 
without trembling and showed a clear 
mind. Often she added some greater 
precision to her previous depositions. 

"When she was asked why she helped 
these soldiers to go to England, she replied 
that she thought that if she had not done 
so they would have been shot by the 
Germans, and that therefore she thought 



71 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

she only did her duty to her country in 
saving their Hves. 

" The Military Prosecutor, however, asked 
the Court to pass a death sentence on Miss 
Cavell and eight other prisoners amongst 
the thirty-five. The Court did not seem to 
agree, and the judgment was postponed. 
The person informing me said he thought 
that the Court would not go to the extreme 
limit." 



[721 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



VII 

Kirschen's Silence and Conrad^s 
Assurances 

THE Court rose on Friday, October 8th, 
one day after its sitting had begun. 
Meanwhile, M. de Leval was waiting for 
M. Kirschen's next communication. He 
did not expect to hear that the Court had 
risen — M. Kirschen had himself assured 
him that "the hearing would be carried 
out very carefully and the trial would be 
rather long," His astonishment was 
therefore considerable when he was in- 
formed by an outsider that "the trial 
had taken place, though no judgment 
would be reached till a few days later." 
This was on Saturday, October 9th, and 

[73] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

not a word from M. Kirschen had been 
received. 

"Receiving no report from M. Kir- 
schen/' continues M. de Leval, "I tried to 
find him, but failed. I then sent him a 
note on Sunday, asking him to send his 
report to the Legation or call there on 
Monday morning at 8.30. "... On 
Monday morning I was very much sur- 
prised still to receive no news from M. Kir- 
schen, and I called at his house at 12.30 ; 
but I was informed that he would not be 
there till about the end of the afternoon. 
I then called, at 12.40, at the house of 
another lawyer interested in the case of a 
fellow-prisoner, and found that he also 
was out. In the afternoon, however, the 
latter lawyer called at my house, saying 
that in the morning he had heard from 
the German Kommandatur that judgment 

[74] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

would be passed only the next morning — 
viz. Tuesday morning. He said that he 
feared that the Court would be very severe 
for all the prisoners. 

"Shortly after, this lawyer left me." 

And that is the last that has been heard 
of M. Kirschen. 

On Sunday evening, the narrative of 
the trial which we have quoted above 
was communicated to M. de Leval by a 
private person who had been a wit- 
ness of the proceedings; and on re- 
ceipt of this information, M. de Leval did 
not wait to hear the last of M. Kirschen 
before addressing himself directly to the 
German Governor-General's " Political 
Department." It will be better to give 
his account of what followed in his own 
words : 

'' After I had found out these facts (viz. 

[75] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

Sunday evening), I called at the Political 
Division of the German Government in 
Belgium and asked whether, now that the 
trial had taken place, permission would be 
granted to me to see Miss Cavell in jail, 
as surely there was no longer any object 
in refusing that permission. 

"I also asked him that permission be 
granted to Mr. Gahan, the English clergy- 
man, to see Miss Cavell. 

"At the same time we prepared at the 
Legation, to be ready for every eventuality, 
a petition for pardon, addressed to the 
Governor-General in Belgium, and a trans- 
mitting note addressed to Baron von der 
Lancken. 

"Monday morning at 11 I called up 
Mr. Conrad on the telephone from the 
Legation, asking what the Military Court 
had decided about Mr. Gahan and myself 

[76] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

seeing Miss Cavell. He replied that 
Mr. Gahan could not see her, but that she 
could see any of the three Protestant 
clergymen attached to the prison; and 
that I could not see her till the judgment 
was pronoimced and signed, but that this 
would probably only take place in a day 
or two. / asked the German official to 
inform the Legation immediately after the 
passing of said judgment, so that I might see 
Miss Cavell at once, thinking, of course, 
that the Legation might, according to your 
intentions, take immediate steps for Miss 
Cavell's pardon if the judgment really was 
a sentence of death." 

At 11 o'clock on Monday morning ^'Herr 
Conrad gave positive assurances that the 
Legation would be fully informed as to 
developments in this case^ 

[77] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

That is, word for word, the categorical 
statement of Mr. Gibson, Secretary of the 
United States Legation at Brussels. 

"Despite these assurances (Mr. Gibson 
continues), we made repeated enquiries 
in the course of the day, the last one being 
at 6.20 P.M., Belgian time. Mr. Conrad 
then stated that sentence had not yet been 
pronounced, and specifically renewed his 
previous assurances that he would not fail 
to inform us as soon as there was any news.'^ 

To return to M. de LevaFs report. 
"While I was preparing a note about the 
case, at 8 p.m.'' he says, " I was privately 
and reliably informed that the judgment 
had been delivered at 5 o'clock in the 
afternoon, that Miss Cavell had been sen- 
tenced to death, and that she would he 
shot at 2 0^ clock the next morning J ^ 

The death-sentence had been signed at 

[78] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

5 P.M. An hour and twenty minutes after 
its signature, Herr Conrad had once more 
assured the American Legation that noth- 
ing had happened and all was well. The 
Legation had learnt the truth at 8 o'clock, 
and still no intimation of it had been 
conveyed to them by the competent 
German authorities. The German author- 
ities never informed them of the truth, 
until they were taxed with it by emissaries 
from the Legation itself. 

The German authorities informed the 
American Legation of only one positive 
fact — the name of Edith CavelFs first, 
and already superseded, advocate. And 
the advocate substituted in M. Braun's 
place gave them knowledge of only one 
fact more — the date on which the trial 
was to begin. All the important facts — 
the fact that the Court had risen; the 

[79] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

narrative of what had taken place before 
it rose, including the supremely important 
fact that the death-penalty had been 
demanded; and the final fact that this 
sentence had already been pronounced — 
these were communicated to the American 
Legation by private informants. 



[80] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



VIII 

Monday Night — " The Political 
Department " 

IT was the eleventh hour, yet the 
American Legation had no thought 
of abandoning the struggle. In view of 
this very eventuality they had drawn up 
the day before two, '^ pleas for mercy '^ 
(requetes en grace), of identical purport, 
but addressed respectively to Baron von 
der Lancken, the Chief of the Political 
Department, and to Baron von Bissing, the 
Governor-General of the Occupied Terri- 
tory. 

"Brussels, 

October 11, 1915. 

"Your Excellency, 

"I have just heard that Miss Cavell, a 
British subject, and consequently imder 

[81] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

the protection of my Legation, was this 
morning condemned to death by court- 
martial. 

"If my informant is correct, the sentence 
in the present case is more severe than all 
the others that have been passed in similar 
cases which have been tried by the same 
court, and, without going into the reasons 
for such a drastic sentence, I feel that I 
have the right to appeal to your Excel- 
lency's feelings of humanity and generosity 
in Miss Cavell's favour, and to ask that 
the death-penalty passed on Miss Cavell 
may be commuted and that this unfortu- 
nate woman shall not be executed. 

'^Miss Cavell is the head of the Brussels 
Surgical Institute. She has spent her life 
in alleviating the sufferings of others, and 
her school has turned out many nurses 
who have watched at the bedside of the 

[82] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

sick all the world over, in Germany as in 
Belgium. At the beginning of the war Miss 
Cavell bestowed her care as freely on the 
German soldiers as on others. Even in 
default of all other reasons, her career 
as a servant of humanity is such as to 
inspire the greatest sympathy and to call 
for pardon. If the information in my 
possession is correct. Miss Cavell, far 
from shielding herself, has, with com- 
mendable straightfor^vardness, admitted 
the truth of all the charges against her, and 
it is the very information which she herself 
has furnished, and which she alone was in 
a position to furnish, which has aggravated 
the severity of the sentence passed on 
her. 

"It is then with confidence, and in the 
hope of its favourable reception, that I 
have the honour to present to your Excel- 

[83] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

lency my request for pardon on Miss 
CavelPs behalf. 

" I avail, &c., 

"Brand Whitlock." 

The American Minister, Mr. Whitlock, 
himself was ill and confined to his bed. 
Yet with his own hand he wrote a note of 
personal intercession. 

"^My dear Baron, 

" I am too ill to present my request to 
you in person, but I appeal to the gener- 
osity of your heart to support it and save 
this unfortunate woman from death. 
Have pity on her ! 

" Yours sincerely, 

"Brand Whitlock." 

This final appeal, as well as the more 
formal pleas for mercy that had been 
previously prepared, was taken charge of 

[841 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

by Mr. Gibson, the Secretary of the 
Legation. 

We quote what followed, from his official 
report to Mr. Whitlock. 

"In conformity with your instructions, 
I went (accompanied by M. de Leval) to 
look for the Spanish Minister, and found 
him dining at the home of Baron Lambert. 
I explained the circumstances to his Ex- 
cellency and asked that (as you were ill 
and unable to go yourself) he go with 
us to see Baron von der Lancken and 
support as strongly as possible the plea, 
which I was to make in your name, that 
execution of the death-penalty should be 
deferred until the Governor could consider 
your appeal for clemency. The Spanish 
Minister willingly agreed to accompany 
us, and we went together to the Politische 
Abteilung. 

[85] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

"Baron von der Lancken and all the 
members of his staff were absent for the 
evening. We sent a messenger to ask 
that he return at once to see us in regard 
to a matter of utmost urgency. A little 
after 10 o'clock he arrived, followed shortly 
after by Count Harrach and Herr von 
Falkenhausen, members of his staff. The 
circumstances of the case were explained 
to him and your note presented, and he 
read it aloud in our presence. He ex- 
pressed disbelief in the report that sen- 
tence had actually been passed, and mani- 
fested some surprise that we should give 
credence to any report not emanating 
from official sources. 

" Baron von der Lancken stated that it 
was quite improbable that sentence had 
been pronounced, that even if so, it would 
not be executed within so short a tim^^ 

[86] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

and that in any event it would be quite 
impossible to take any action before morn- 
ing. It was, of course, pointed out to him 
that if the facts were as we believed them 
to be, action would be useless unless taken 
at once. We urged him to ascertain the 
facts immediately, and this, after some 
hesitancy, he agreed to do. 

" He telephoned to the presiding judge 
of the court-martial and returned in a 
short time to say that the facts were as 
we had represented them, and that it was 
intended to carry out the sentence before 
morning. 

" We then presented, as earnestly as pos- 
sible, your plea for delay. So far as I am 
able to judge, we neglected to present no 
phase of the matter which might have 
had any effect, emphasizing the horror of 
executing a woman, no matter what her 

[87] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

offence, pointing out that the death- 
sentence had heretofore been imposed 
only for actual cases of espionage, and that 
Miss Cavell was not even accused by the 
German authorities of anything so serious. 
I further called attention to the failure 
to comply with Mr. Conrad^s promise to 
inform the Legation of the sentence. 

" I urged that inasmuch as the offences 
charged against Miss Cavell were long 
since accomplished, and that, as she had 
been for some weeks in prison, a delay in 
carrying out the sentence could entail no 
danger to the German cause. I even went 
so far as to point out the fearful effect of a 
summary execution of this sort upon public 
opinion, both here and abroad. 

"The Spanish Minister forcibly sup- 
ported all our representations and made 
an earnest plea for clemency. 

[88] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 



''Baron von der Lancken stated that 
the Military Governor was the supreme 
authority ('GerichtsherrO in matters of 
this sort. After some discussion he agreed 
to call the Military Governor on the 
telephone, and learn whether he had already 
ratified the sentence, and whether there 
was any chance for clemency. He re- 
turned in about half an hour, and stated 
that he had been to confer personally 
with the Military Governor, who said 
that he had acted in the case of Miss Cavell 
only after mature deliberation; that the 
circumstances in her case were of such a 
character that he considered the infliction 
of the death penalty imperative ; and that 
in view of the circumstances of this case 
he must decline to accept your plea for 
clemency or any representation in regard 
to the matter. 

[89] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

"Even after Baron von der Lancken's 
very positive and definite statement that 
there was no hope, and that under the cir- 
cumstances ^even the Emperor himself 
could not intervene/ we continued to ap- 
peal to every sentiment to secure delay, 
and the Spanish Minister even led Baron 
von der Lancken aside in order to say 
very forcibly a number of things which he 
would have felt hesitancy in saying in the 
presence of the younger officers and of 
M. de Leval, a Belgian subject. 

"His Excellency talked very earnestly 
with Baron von der Lancken for about a 
quarter of an hour. During this time 
M. de Leval and I presented to the 
younger officers every argument we could 
think of. I reminded them of our untiring 
efforts on behalf of German subjects at 
the outbreak of war and during the siege 

[90] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

of Antwerp. I pointed out that, while 
our services had been rendered gladly 
and without any thought of future favours, 
they should certainly entitle you to some 
consideration for the only request of this 
sort you had made since the beginning of 
the war. Unfortunately, our efforts were 
unavailing. We persevered until it was 
only too clear that there was no hope of 
securing any consideration for the case. 

"We left the Politische Abteilung shortly 
after midnight, and I immediately re- 
turned to the Legation to report to you. 
"Hugh Gibson. '* 



[91] 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 



IX 

Monday Night — The Prison of St- 
Gilles 

THAT is what happened at the "Po- 
Htical Department'' of the German 
Administration in Brussels on the evening 
of Monday, October 11th. Meanwhile, a 
very different interview was taking place 
in the Military Prison of St.-Gilles, where 
Mr. Gahan, the British chaplain in the 
Belgian capital, had been admitted at last 
to visit Edith Cavell at 10 o'clock, five 
hours after the sentence had been passed 
and four hours before it was put into 
execution. 

"On Monday evening, the 11th Octo- 
ber" (Mr. Gahan writes), "I was admitted 

[92] 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

by special passport from the German 
authorities to the prison of St.-Gilles, 
where Miss Edith Cavell had been con- 
fined for ten weeks. The final sentence 
had been given early that afternoon. 

"To my astonishment and relief I found 
my friend perfectly calm and resigned. 
But this could not lessen the tenderness 
and intensity of feeling on either part 
during that last interview of almost an 
hour. 

"Her first words to me were upon a 
matter concerning herself personally, but 
the solemn asseveration which accom- 
panied them was made expressly in the 
light of God and eternity. She then added 
that she wished all her friends to know 
that she willingly gave her life for her 
country and said: 'I have no fear nor 
shrinking; I have seen death so often 

[931 



THE EDITH CAVELL NURSE 

that it is not strange or fearful to 
me. . . .' 

"She further said: 'I thank God for 
this ten weeks' quiet before the end. . . .' 

"'Life has always been hurried and full 
of difficulty. . . .' 

"'This time of rest has been a great 
mercy. . . .' 

"'They have all been very kind to me 
here. But this I would say, standing as 
I do in view of God and eternity, I realize 
that patriotism is not enough. I must 
have no hatred or bitterness towards 
anyone.' 

"We partook of the Holy Communion 
together, and she received the Gospel 
message of consolation with all her heart. 
At the close of the little service I began to 
repeat the words 'Abide with me,' and she 
joined softly in the end. 

[941 



FROM MASSACHUSETTS 

"We sat quietly talking until it was 
time for me to go. She gave me parting 
messages for relations and friends. She 
spoke of her souFs needs at the moment 
and she received the assurance of God's 
Word as only the Christian can do. 

" Then I said, ' Good-bye/ and she smiled 

and said, 'We shall meet again.''' 
* * ***** 

The rest is silence. All we know is the 
testimony of the German military-chaplain 
who was with her at the end. 

"She was brave and bright to the last. 
She professed her Christian faith, and that 
she was glad to die for her country. . . . 

"She died like a heroine. ..." 

Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur, ut re- 
quiescant a laboribus suis; opera enim illorum se- 
quntur illos. 

— Revelation, Chapter xiv, 13. 



[95] 



